After several delays in its ice project due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the manager of Danville’s David S. Palmer Arena says he is prepared to open the ice surface to hockey clubs early next week.
Joe Dunagan says he has told officials with Danville Youth Hockey, Champaign-Urbana Youth Hockey Association and the University of Illinois men’s club hockey team that the planned reopening date is on Monday, although it could be delayed a day or two depending on if the new ice is ready to use. The final decision will be made on Thursday.
Dunagan says that while the Illinois Department of Public Health has specific rules for youth sports, he is leaving it up to the individual clubs to enforce the rules however they want to.
“We’re recommending that they follow the mandates, but they will be the ones responsible for enforcing them and deciding what they’re actually going to do,” he explained. “The arena will not be the one determining what the mandates are going to be that they follow. It’s going to be up to them.”
Arena board member Tara Auter says the Danville Youth Hockey participants are excited to be able to use the new surface. She says only practices will be held at first.
Representatives from the Champaign-Urbana and UI clubs reached out to Dunagan in the fall because the University of Illinois decided to keep its ice arena closed due to the pandemic.
The $3 million renovation project, which was planned before the pandemic, involved the replacement of the arena’s floor and ice-making system along with some seats. It was funded through a donation from the estate of Julius W. Hegeler II.
